Almost thirty years after the Apollo missions, Tranquillity Base, Hadley Rille, or Taurus-Littrow are names still resonant with the enormous achievements represented by the lunar landings. But how did these places get their names? Who named Copernicus crater? Where did all those names on lunar maps come from, & what stimulated their selection? Ewen Whitaker traces the origins & evolution of the present-day systems for naming lunar features such as craters, mountains, valleys & dark spots. The connections between the prehistoric & historic names, & today's gazetteer are clearly described. Beautiful lunar maps spanning four centuries of progress wonderfully illustrate the unfolding of our ability to map the Moon. Rare, early photographs add to the sense of history. Comprehensive appendices & the bibliography make this delightful book a work of lasting reference & scholarship.